Article of headwear



April 24, 1962 J. o. SHELTON ARTICLE OF HEADWEAR Filed June 8, 1959INVENTOR. Joseph 0. She/ton. BY

Flt tomeys Ulllllfil This invention relates to an article of headwearand more particularly to such an article which shall be formed of aplurality of crown sections which are connected for vertical adjustmentrelative to each other, whereby a maximum amount of ventilation isprovided between the adjacent crown sections when the sections are movedto fully extended position and no ventilation is provided betweenadjacent crown sections when the sections are moved to closed position.

Another object of my invention is to provide an article of headwear ofthe character designated in which the amount of air circulated adjacentthe head of the wearer may be accurately controlled by moving thesections relative to each other.

Another object of my invention is to provide an article of headwearwhich shall comprise a plurality of adjustable sections which arepositively attached to each other whereby the sections are notaccidentally separated from each other while in use.

A further object of my invention is to provide an article of headwear ofthe character designated which may be selectively used as a sun visor, acap or a hat.

A further object of my invention is to provide an article of headwear ofthe character designated in which the individual sections of the hat maybe formed of different colors by merely forming the individual sectionsof different colors during manufacture thereof.

A further object of my invention is to provide an article of headwear ofthe character designated which shall be light in weight and yet shall besturdy of construction whereby the article provides protection for thehead of the wearer.

A still further object of my invention is to provide an article ofheadwear of the character designated which shall be simple ofconstruction, economical of manufacture and which shall be neat inappearance and particularly adapted for mass production.

An article embodying features of my invention is illustrated in theaccompanying drawing, forming a part of this application, in which:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view, partly broken away;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged vertical sectional view through the articleshowing the crown sections in extended position for allowing a amount ofventilation;

FIG. 3 is a fragmental, vertical sectional view showing the crownsections in closed position;

FIG. 4 is a fragmental sectional view showing the connection between thebrim section and the lowermost crown section; and,

FIG. 5 is a fragmental sectional view showing a modified form of myinvention.

Referring now to the drawing for a better understanding of my invention,I show a lower crown section which is detachably connected to asuperjacent crown section 11, which in turn is connected to asuperjacent crown section 12. Connected to the crown section 12 is acover member 13. Preferably, the lowermost crown section 10 carries asun visor 14 which is formed integrally therewith, as shown in FIG. 2.The crown sections 10, 11 and 12 and the cover member 13 are connectedto each other for vertical adjustment relative to each other, as shownin FIGS. 2 and 3.

Formed integrally with the upper edge of the lower crown section 10 areupwardly projecting members 16 which are preferably round as viewed incross section.

"ice,

The free ends of the upwardly extending projections 16 are provided withenlarged portions 17 which are adapted to snap within suitable openings18 provided in the superjacent crown section 11, as shown. An enlargeddiameter portion 19 is provided intermediate the enlarged portion 17 andthe upper edge of the cover member 10 in position to hold the crownsection 11 either in the extended position, as shown in FIG. 2, or inthe closed position, as shown in FIG. 3. That is, the enlarged diameterportion 19 is of a size to engage the openings 18 whereby the crownsection 11 is held in either the extended or closed position. On theother hand, the enlarged diameter portion 19 is of a size to be forcedthrough the opening 18 whereby the crown section 11 may be movedselectively from open to closed position.

Formed integrally with the upper edge of the crown section 11 areupwardly projecting members 16 having enlarged portions 17 adjacent thefree ends thereof which snap through suitable openings 18 provided inthe superjacent crown section 12. Also, the upwardly extendingprojections 16 are provided with intermediate enlarged portions 19 whichhold the crown section 12 in either the fully opened position or theclosed position, as shown.

Formed integrally with the inner surface of the cover member 13 aredepending projections 16 which are disposed to project through openings18 provided in the subjacent crown section 12, as shown in FIGS. 2 and3. Enlarged portions 17 are provided adjacent the free ends of theprojections 16' to prevent separation of the cover member 13 from thesubjacent crown section 12.

Also, an enlarged diameter intermediate portion 19 is provided on thedepending projection 16* intermediate the ends thereof for holding thecover member 13 either in extended position or retracted positionrelative to the subjacent crown section.

The enlarged portion 17, 17 and 17 are of a size to prevent separationof the sections of the article after the same are assembled. Preferably,the enlarged diameter portions 19, 19 and 19 are not as large as theenlarged portions 17, 17 and 17 whereby the individual sections may beeasily shifted from closed position to open position and vice versa.

Instead of employing the projections with enlarged diameter portions 19,19 and 19 thereon, each projection may be in the form of a member 20 asshown in FIG. 5, having an enlarged diameter portion 20 at the free endthereof which is of a size to snap throughthe openings 18, 18 or 18 asthe case may be. The portion of the member intermediate the enlargeddiameter portion 20 and the adjacent edge of the attached crown sectionis of a size to frictionally engage the openings 18, 18 and 18respectively. Accordingly, the individual sections may be held in anyselected position relative to each other, thereby providing accuratecontrol of the air circulated adjacent the head of the wearer.

Formed integrally with the inner surface of the lower crown section 10are depending retaining members 21 and 22 having inwardly projectingdetents 23 and 24, respectively, which are disposed to engagetherebetween a sweat band indicated generally at 26. Preferably, theedges of the crown sections and the edge of the cover member are beadedas at 25 to give added strength to the sections.

By employing the lowermost crown section 10 alone, the article may beemployed as a sun visor. By employing the lowermost crown section 10,together with the cross sections 11 and 12 and the cover member 13, thearticle may be employed as a cap. On the other hand, the device may bealso employed as a hat by detachably connecting a brim 27 to thelowermost crown section 10, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 4.

The lowermost crown section 10 is provided with a plurality of angularlyspaced openings 28 therein which are disposed to receive dependingprojections 29 which are formed integrally with the inner surface of thebrim 2-7, "as shown in FIG. 4. Enlarged diameter portions 31 providedadjacent the free ends of the projectiohs 29 whei'eby the brim portionis positively attached to the lowermost crown section 10 after theenlarged portion 31 has snapped through the openings 28. A- cording'ly,the article may be selectively employed as a h r a cap-by merelyattaching and removing the brim section 21 from the lowermost crownsection 10.

various parts of the article may be formed of any suitable material,such as plastic or the like. By forming the individual sections of thearticle of difierem colors, the article may assume various colors or theentire article may be of the same col-or.

From the foregoing, it will be seen that I have devised ah improvedarticle of headwear which is particularly adapted for controllingaccurately the amount of airgcireulated a'djac'ent the head of thewearer. Also, by moving the individual sections of the article to fullyclosed position, a water-proof article is provided. Furthermore, byconstructing the individual sections of the article of a shape wherebythey may be easily molded from a inoldahle material, suchas plastic orthe like, the cost of production of the article is materially reducedand article is particularly adapted for inass production.

While I have shown my invention in several forms, it be obvious topersons skilled in the art that it is no: so-li'niite'd, butis'su's'ceptibl'e of various other changes modifications withoutdeparting from the spirit thereof, and I desire, therefore, that onlysuch limitations -'be pla'ced thereupon as are specifically set forth inthe appended What I claim is: V

1. A11 article of headwear comprising superimposed sections, each ofsaid crown sections flaring out- Wafdly toward the lower end thereof todefine upper and lower portions for said crown sections with the loweredge of each superjacent crown section even n the ripper edge of thesubjacent crown section, upwardly 'projecting'nienibers carried by theupper portions of said crown sections, there being "openings inpeijacen't crownsections for receiving the upward- 4y e ecting memberscarried by the 'subjacent crown sections whereby adjacent crown sectionsare held at selected positions relative to each other.

2. article of headwe'ar comprising generally anniil'ar "superimposedcrown sections, each of said crown .4 crown section overlying the upperedge of the subjacent crown section, upwardly projecting members"carried by the upper portions of said crown sections, there beingOpenings in the superjacent crown sections for receiving the upwardlyprojecting members carried by the subjacen-t crown sections wherebyadjacent crown sections are held at selected positions relative to eachother, a generally annular brim section superimposed on the lowermostone of said crown sections and detachably l i n. 5

flaring outwardly toward the lower end thereof define upper portions andlower portions for said crownce'ctions with the lower edge of eachsuperjacent connected thereto, and a cover member connected to theuppermost one of said crown sections. V

3. An article of headwear comprising superimposed crown sections, eachof said crown sections flaring outwardly toward the lower end thereof todefine upper portions and lower portions for said crown section's thelower edge of each superja'cen't crow-n section overlying the upper edgeof the subjacent crown section, upwardly projecting members carried bythe upper portions of said crown sections, there being openings in eachcrown section for receiving the upwardly projecting members carried bythe subja-cent crown section whereby adjacen't crown sections are heldat selected positions relative to each other, and a'cover memberconnected to the uppermost one of said crown sections.

4. An article of headwear as defined in claim 3 in which the upwardlyprojecting members have enlarged portions adjacent the upper endsthereof which are of a size to snap into the openings of a superjacentcrown section.

5. An article of headwear as defined in claim 4 in which each upwardlyprojecting member is provided with an enlarged portion intermediate theends thereof or a size to engage but pass through the opening ofa'super- =jacent crown section whereby the crown sections are heldselectively at extended and retracted position.

5 6. article of headwear as defined in claim 5 in which the enlargedportions adjacent the upper ends and intermediate the ends of theprojecting members are formed of a deformable mateiial.

' 7. An article of 'h'eadwear as defined in claim '4 in which theportion of each projecting member intermediate the ends thereof is of adiameter to frictionally engage said opening in an adjacent crownsection, whereby the projecting member may be moved to selectedpositions relative to the opening.

References Cited in the file ot this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 13,361Sellers July "31, 1855 1,542,000 Parsons June 16, '1925 1,748,375Wittcofi Feb. '25, 1930 2,181,180 Feige NOV. 28, 1939

